Riding around Colorado this week, anybody else?

Edit: (Pictures further down this post)

Left Louisiana Monday and will be riding in Colorado this week. Took I-25 up to Pueblo and turned left. We saw a lot of FJR's on the road today between Salida and Montrose on HWY 50 and 92. Anybody from the Board? Me on an 07 riding with a Red Honda Interceptor. We might have waved to you. We took the north loop around Gunnison the back to the Black Canyon area today. Tomorrow we head south from Montrose through Ouray to Durango then toward Cortez and then up toward Moab Utah. After that we head back through Colorado toward Aspen then to Estes Park and any where else we want to.

Question.. Is there anyplace that must been seen to say we had a successful trip? We are taking all the back roads we can and are open to suggestions.

Titan said:

Is there anyplace that must been seen to say we had a successful trip? We are taking all the back roads we can and are open to suggestions.

Click to expand...

Highway 149 -- Lake City to Creede to South Fork -- if it fits in your schedule. Lake City and Creede are great little towns, too.

Probably too late, but highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton was in terrible shape (broken pavement, gravel, mud, and potholes) and under construction when I came through there a couple weeks ago.

Enjoy your ride.

Dave

Tuesday morning...

Thanks for the road info pinhead. Janet I guess we will miss you by a few days. You pack you bike like I do.

Thursday we took 550 down through Ouray to Durango. Lot of new road construction going on but there was a lot of new blacktop already down. From Durango we went toward Cortez then up to Telluride. Avoid it this weekend unless you like Bluegrass music. The town was packed with people and cars. Nice road and beautiful scenery on the way there. We took Hwy 90 to Utah 46 and the up to Moab where we stopped. Had a good meal and some brew at the Moab brewery. I don't recommend the Moab Comfort Suites it is being remodeled, messy, no elevator and no computer to use, it was broken. When I made my reservation they failed to tell me any of this. I didn't ask so I guess it's buyer beware.

Friday we went to Arches Park and then to CanyonLands park. It was Hot! Must have put on and taken off rding gear about 100 times today. Both parks are amazing. We left there and went up to I-70 and across to Junction City Colorado. Stopping here for the night. I already called in for another week of vacation. There is no way I am going to make it back to work by Monday.

Plan for Saturday is head East to Mt. Evans and then up to Rocky Mountain National Park, Trailridge road and then South. Sunday we will hit Pikes Pike and the Royal Gorge and call it a trip. Two days to get back home after that. Took a lot of pictures that I will try to put up later. Nothing but beautiful weather nice roads and great scenery. Ok, I am jealous of you Colorado peope some time. I got to get out of the chair and let my rump rest in the bed.

So,..........................how's it feel to look gay in a helmet and leathers?

I wouldn't look gay in a pink Tutu, You can be anybody you want and I will support you, but that's not my thing. Take your first slide on the asphalt and come back complaining about ATGATT. Tattoos are expensive to get put back on.

Independance Pass (CO82)

McClure Pass (CO133)

Berthoud Pass (US40)

Rabbit Ears Pass (US40)

Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park (US34)

Wolf Creek Pass (US160)

Lizard Head Pass (CO145)

Just to name a few...

Nice list CPSFJR. We will only miss 3, Rabbit Ears, McClure and Wolf Creek but on the plus side we will make the rest of them and quite a few more. I guess I will make a list of them after the trip is finished. Thanks for the info.

I ride an 08 and am in Louisiana. My wife and I have jeeped all over Colorado in the areas your riding in and it is got to be a good bike ride. Maybe will some day.

We left Grand Junction this morning on I-70 then turned down to Aspen at Glenwood Springs on 82. We went over Independence Pass then to Leadville. We stopped at the fish hatchery in Leadville before heading back up to I-70. At Dillon we turned onto Hwy 6 and went over Loveland pass and back on I-70 to Mt Evans. That is an interesting ride to to the top. Then on to Golden for the night. Tomorrow we are heading up to Rocky Mountain Park and then down to Pikes Peak on Hwy 9. Getting close to the end. Hey big ears we ride through Buller quite often going to the Casino. Might run into you one day.

We went to Rocky Mountain National Park today. I saw quite a few FJR's along the way. We got caught in a snow storm about half way through Trail Ridge road. The wind was blowing it almost sideways. Luckily we already had our rain gear on so we just kept on going, although it was a lot slower. Didn't make Pikes Peak today we stopped in Dillon for the night. Pikes Peak is on the agenda tomorrow and then we are out of here.

I was watching out for you around Woodland Park and Pikes Peak yesterday (Sunday). I was out on my FJR for a bit with some friends (other bikes). I live in Woodland Park, so I'm sure you'll ride through here today. Pikes Peak looks good this morning, but watch out for afternoon thunderstorms -- if it is cloud-covered, just skip. Unfortunately you'll be hitting it other than early morning, so you'll eat some dust with cars going up and down. I prefer to get there by 8am thus no one driving down while I'm going up, so less dust. All but 5 miles paved -- one mile unpaved just below timberline and Glen Cove, then paved through the steep switchbacks above Glen Cove, then the last four miles are unpaved. Watch for construction near the top as they are working on the drainage to pave move this summer.

Very doable on the FJR or other bikes. I like to ride to the top without stopping (maybe a quick stop at Glen Cove) and then make my stops on the way down. Rode the FJR up last year and the Gold Wing this year (with friends in town). Hope you have a good time in my backyard today!

Couple of my FJR photos on Pikes Peak last summer:

We went to the top of Pikes Peak Monday afternoon. Wrong thing to do. It was nice but dark clouds were in the area. As soon as we left the top we were met with strong wind gusts and near white out snow conditions. We were dressed for it but not prepared for the mush, slushy mud that the road turned into. Slipped sideways and slid as our tires and fenders got jammed with crud. A jammed up street tire covered with mud on a loaded down bike is a handful. Brakes were pretty much useless and engine draq wasn't enough to go slow enough. They had construction crews grading the dirt and filling in holes on the way up. It didn't mix well with the rain. Cars and trucks were sliding behind us, in front of us and even stopping in the road. Didn't go down but puckered a few times. Even with the rain at lower altitudes on the paved section the crap wouldn't wash off. The crushed rock, sand and mud layererd up on the inside of the rims about 3/4 of an inch thick, covered the radiator and pipes. Found a car wash in Manitou Springs where it took 3 washes to get most of the stuff off. Probably ruined the chain on the Interceptor. Got some scratches from where that stuff stuck to the side of my boot and it rubbed on the side cover. But we got a nice view from the top for a while. DaveT sorry we missed you. We stopped and got some ConocoPhillips gas in Woodland Park just past the intersection of hwy 24 and 67.

That's it for us. We turned toward Kansas at Pueblo. This is where we started counting our Colorado miles. 1784 mile loop Pueblo back to Pueblo not counting the 1100 or so miles up here. We are taking a different route back so it will probably be close to 4000 miles all told. I don't remember how many passes we went over or how many parks or scenic things we saw but I took 273 pictures so far and will post some of them when we get back. Good bye Colorado it was fun.

Made it back safely Wednesday evening. 10 days on the Road, about 3900 miles. No real problems other than the ride down Pikes Peak. Gas prices betweem $3.73 to $4.29. Motels from $89 to $138. Need a new front tire and an oil change. I will wash it and inspect for damage tomorrow

Finally have some pictures posted to verify that we actually did it.



Map



Arches National Park Utah



Black Canyon



Ouray



Ouray



Heading North toward Telluride



Heading North toward Telluride



Somewhere in Colorado



Red Mountain Pass



CanyonLands Utah



CanyonLands Utah



Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain Park



Top of Mt Evans



Top of Pikes Peak



Greensburg Kansas. The town was 95% destroyed by F5 Tornado last year (Google it)



Loveland Pass

Hope that's not too many pictures.

Hey Titan,I was also riding around in Colorado the last couple weeks.I attended the Blugrass festival in Telluride and then rode The San Juan Skyway,149,50,92 and some other state routes up to Rocky Mountain N.P.

I'm typing this from Laramie WY as I head up to the Tetons,Yellowstone,Beartooth pass,Glacier N.P. and then home.Some great riding out here.I might of passed you somewhere,there seems to be a lot more sport touring bikes out here then there are in the midwest.

drc32-0 Hope you enjoyed your ride as much as we did. Have a safe trip home.